March 16, 2001

Grenade blast near Pakistan consulate in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Reuters) - A hand grenade exploded near the Pakistani consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad but did not cause any injuries or damage

ANALYSIS-Pakistan in awkward position over backing Taliban
By Jack Redden
ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Reuters) - The Taliban's systematic destruction of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic treasures has drawn unwelcome attention to Pakistan, the hardline religious movement's main ally in an increasingly hostile world.

Euro Parliament condemns Taliban treatment of women, Buddhist statues
STRASBOURG, March 15 (AFP) - The European Parliament Thursday condemned Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia's destruction of ancient Buddha statues at Bamiyan,

Don't alienate Taliban for Buddha destruction: Pakistani FM
TOKYO, March 15 (AFP) - Japan and other industrial nations should not alienate Afghanistan's Taliban regime for the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues,

Pakistan requested to ask Taliban to stop destruction
.c Kyodo News Service
TOKYO, March 16 (Kyodo) - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori requested visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar on Friday to ask the Taliban authorities

Afghan Buddha destruction revealed
Little remains of the Ghazni Buddha - BBC
The 16-metre long reclining Buddha at the temple in Tape-Sardar in Ghazni province was reportedly destroyed last week alongside another famous statue

Destruction of statues a cover-up of Taliban's atrocities - Rabbani
Tehran, March 15, IRNA -- Demolition of Buddha statues by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban is aimed at covering up their atrocities in Bamiyan, the Leader

Taliban must recognize value of Afghan artifacts: UNESCO envoy
.c Kyodo News Service
KABUL, March 16 (Kyodo) - By: Shahid-ur-Rehman Khan UNESCO special envoy Pierre Lafrance said Friday he will continue to try to persuade the Taliban

Masoud planning spring offensive in Afghanistan
Imtiaz Gul reports from Dushanbe
Pakistan's FridayTimes 3/16/01:
Stricken by poverty, and subdued by a repressive regime that still operates through a Soviet-style surveillance system, the people of Tajikistan rarely know what their

One more enemy
Friday Times letter
Sir, As an artist, I am absolutely outraged at the destruction of art by the Taliban in Afganhistan. If the Taliban harbour such intolerance and outright contempt

Strategic depth or isolation?
Najam Sethi's E d i t o r i a l - Friday Times
The Taliban's Buddha-bashing is un-Islamic, argue Islamic scholars and religious leaders across the world. It is illegal, claim international jurists. It is unnecessary, irrational,

U.N. to probe reported Afghan starvation deaths
ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Reuters) - A U.N. team will go into the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan next week to investigate opposition reports of a large number

Afghan foreign minister meets with Uzbek counterpart
TASHKENT: The foreign minister of Afghanistan's anti-Taliban Northern Alliance held talks with Uzbekistan's foreign minister on Thursday and said his group

Buddha-bashing is illegal
Ahmer Bilal Soofi - Friday Times 3/16/01
The Taliban militia's decision to destroy two ancient statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan province of Afghanistan has created a stir throughout the world.

Khatami condemsn Muslim fanaticism
The Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, who's on a visit to Russia, has urged Muslims to turn away from fanaticism.

IN THE RUINS
The New Yorker, Issue of 2001-03-19
For the better part of two thousand years, the standing Buddhas of Bamiyan kept watch over the midpoint of what was once the Silk Road, the tenuous filigree

Taliban barbarism continues
Vancouver Sun  - 03/16/01 - Editorial
Countries around the world have rightly protested the wanton destruction of historic and religious artifacts in Afghanistan by a government gone berserk.

Pakistani police seize 56 missiles in Baluchistan
QUETTA, Pakistan, March 16 (Reuters) - Police in southwestern Pakistan have seized 56 missiles, each with a range of 10 to 12 km (6.25 to 7.5 miles),

Letters to Times of India
Letter: Being a Muslim by birth and also of Afghan stock I am ashamed by the Taliban's destruction of the relics of civilisation, the harmless statues of Lord Buddha